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Ypsilanti council to vote on several charter amendments Thursday night

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Ypsilanti residents listen to a presentation about a proposed affordable housing project on Water St. at an Ypsilanti City Council meeting. Council will meet Thursday to discuss 11 charter amendments for the November ballot. Brianne Bowen | The Ann Arbor News

Eleven proposed charter amendment resolutions will be discussed Thursday night during the Ypsilanti City Council meeting. Those proposed amendments could end up on the November ballot.

The list of proposed resolutions will be brought before council at the request of Council Member Pete Murdock, according to a memo from City Attorney John Barr. The proposed resolutions stem from a 2012 ballot measure that would have rewritten the city charter.

That measure was narrowly defeated after voters had initially voted to form a charter commission in 2010. City charter requires that a vote be held every 16 years to determine if a commission is needed to rewrite the charter. Once the 2010 vote called for the commission to be formed, voters elected not to approve the new charter.

Murdock contends there were some necessary changes in that proposal and thinks they should be back on the ballot so that the city can get more in line with state laws, while doing some cleaning up of the charter.

“There were a lot of good things that came out of their recommendation in terms of cleaning it up and I thought we should possibly do those,” Murdock said.

Council will vote on all 11 proposals Thursday, and five yes votes are required for each proposal to get it on the ballot. Murdock said he did not believe Mayor Paul Schreiber would be at the meeting, meaning five of the six council members in attendance will have to agree to get each proposal on the ballot.

Murdock went on to say now was the time to suggest the changes as they must be part of a general election vote. The general election will be held on Nov. 4

The 11 proposed changes are as follows:

Remove the mandatory revision process.

City charter currently requires voters to decide whether or not to revise the charter every 16 years. The amendment would eliminate that process and all charter revisions would be done according to state law, which would require either a petition or initiation of city council.

Permit publication of ordinance by city website when authorized by law.

This would allow for the city to publish an ordinance online and would be a cost saving measure for the city.

Provide the city clerk act as city manager in the absence of the city manager.

Currently there is no clear direction for how the city proceeds in the absence of the city manager. This proposal would have the city clerk fill that role in the city manager’s absence.

Permit city council to discontinue city boards and commissions.

The charter does not lay out a proper way for the city to discontinue a board or commission. This proposal gives that power to city council.

Allow ordinances to have immediate effect upon a two-thirds council vote.

This would allow for ordinances passed by council to become effective immediately when a super majority agrees to do so. Emergency ordinances would be approved in one reading.

Currently, ordinances are effective 30 days after adoption ar at a later date agreed on. Under the new provisions, ordinances would become immediately effective by a two-thirds vote of council as long as they don't adopt or amend an administrative code, provide for a fine or establish a rule or regulation for a violation that can result in a fine.

Provide for council meetings once a month instead of every 30 days.

Council is required to meet every 30 days under the current charter, this would change that to once a month.

Allow city council members to serve on city boards and commissions.

As suggested by the city Planning Commission, this would allow for council members to serve outside of council. The City of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti Township allow their elected officials to serve on boards and commissions.

Provide that city candidates for office file petitions on the 15th Tuesday before the primary election, or according to state law.

The city charter allows for petitions to be filed on the 12th Tuesday before the primary. This would change the law to confirm with state law.

Allow sale of land after a public hearing by resolution.

The recommendation is to have a public hearing and resolution when
considering the sale or lease of city-owned land.

Allow city council to remove members of boards and commissions by a two-thirds vote.

Charter currently allows for the removal of board members only through recommendation of the mayor.

Provide for confirmation of a special assessment roll within the City by resolution, when permitted by law

Charter does not conform with the city code. This amendment would allow for adoption by resolution and will improve the process. With the exception of limited special assessment purposes, this amendment also brings the procedure within the statutory requirements.